Tag: God

Devotionals

Reformation Day: the righteous shall live by faith

Loring Schultz

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:17 ESV

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October 31st is recognized around the world as Halloween or ‘All Hallows’ Eve.’ The meaning of ‘hallows’ is ‘saints’ in the Christian tradition, All Saints Day is November 1st. However, Halloween today is nothing about Christian saints and I will leave it there. Today is Reformation Day, the day celebrated by Christians in recognizing Martin Luther’s ‘95 Theses’ nailed to the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door in 1517.

Martin Luther was a German monk and a professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg who became disillusioned with the error he saw in the Catholic church, particularly the selling of indulgences. He posted his ‘95 Theses’ to spark conversation and debate among his colleagues calling for reform in the Catholic church. This, however, led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.    

Luther was convinced through the reading of Scripture that salvation was by the grace of God alone and faith alone in Jesus Christ. It was not by any merit or works on our part that contributes to salvation and entrance into heaven. This was in contradiction to what he had observed within the church. Luther was also a staunch believer that every person should have access to the Bible and be able to read it for themselves. He had translated the entire Bible into German.  

Stephen Nichols of Ligonier Ministries writes, “The real main character in Reformation Day is not Luther. It’s the Word of God. What Luther discovered as a monk is that for centuries, the true teachings of the Word of God had been hidden by century upon century of tradition. That’s what Reformation Day is about: it’s about pulling back the cover and releasing the power of the Word of God and the beauty and the truth of the gospel. That’s why we celebrate Reformation Day.” (1)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

(1) What Is Reformation Day? | Ligonier Ministries

Devotionals

God’s Orderly Design     

Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Timothy 2:9-15 NLT – And I want women to be modest in their – Bible Gateway

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 NLT

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Having established proper order and maintaining it in any area of life here on earth prevents confusion and even chaos.

Our God is a God of perfect order. When the world starts to change up what God has designed there is mass confusion. Our world does not function as it should because it is out of order of God’s original design. God has a specific design for men and women and the roles of each in our world today. We can see the chaos that has developed over recent years when God’s creation order is ignored. But more on that at a future date. Today, our concentration is on God’s design for men’s and women’s roles in the Christian church.

First of all, men and women are equal in the body of Christ. Paul, the apostle affirms this in the book of Galatians. (Gal.3:28) However, men and women have different roles in the church when it comes to the corporate worship service. God has designed men to be responsible for leading the church in worship. This results in a lot of push back in 2025. But God commanded it. Women are in no way inferior to men in spiritual matters. Both men and women learn equally from the preaching of the Word. It is by God’s orderly design.

Adhering to the truth of Scripture is vital for the Christian church in all its functions, activities, and mode of worship. God’s Word has not changed over time to meet the demands of a changing culture. Accepting any changes opens up the whole Bible to question what is for today and what is not. But more importantly, the way of salvation becomes subject to change. There is only one way of salvation (Jn.14:6) and it is in God’s unchanging Word along with His design for worship.

Devotionals

Crying Out to God         

Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 5 ESV – Lead Me in Your Righteousness – To the – Bible Gateway

“Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.” Psalm 5:1-2 ESV

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King David’s enemies were spreading lies about him to destroy him. The rumor mill had it that David was no longer fit to be king. God had abandoned him, and it was said David’s ability to protect the nation was in doubt. But David says in his prayer to God, “For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave.” (Ps.5:9 esv) David appeals to God’s character in this psalm he wrote knowing that God will never abandon him and will answer his prayer.

David begins by crying out to God in Hebrew parallel form repeating the same thought three times. ‘Give ear…consider…give attention’ David expresses his desire for God to hear his prayer and consider his groaning by giving attention to his cry. He comes before God the first thing in the morning with his petitions. He calls on God to hold his enemies guilty (Ps.5:10) and to bestow blessings on the righteous. (Ps.5:11) David is confident in the Lord’s answer of blessing to his prayer as we see in the closing verse, “For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.” (Ps.5:12 esv)

So, we can have the same confidence that God will answer us as He did David when he cried out to Him in prayer. It’s OK to appeal to God by repeating our cry. That is crying out to God. Ask Him to hear your words, and consider your groaning through it, and to give attention to the sound of your cry. Our God wants us to come to Him in prayer even when we cry out to Him.

Devotionals

Can I Trust Him?

Loring Schultz

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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Life is complicated for most people. Even for those who live in rural communities where not too much is going on, there’s always something going on, yes life is complicated. We all need a little guidance to help us along. Guidance is needed not only to be successful in life, but to have continued joy and contentment. Given over to ourselves, we are not always successful in life and our efforts for joy and contentment are but moments soon to drift away. We need someone who is bigger than ourselves, God, but can we trust Him?

The wisest man who ever lived on this earth, King Solomon, said God can be trusted. Solomon wrote, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart……and he will make your paths straight.” (Pr.3:5-6 niv) The idea of making our paths straight is to remove any obstacles that are in the way. Who would better know how to remove those obstacles than one with the ability to know what we will encounter before it happens and has the power to remove them. We are often confused lacking understanding in the way God is leading us, but we must rest assured His plan for us is good and will not fail. When we fully submit to God trusting His leading as we reject our own temptation to do it ourselves, God will surely lead us to complete joy and contentment. Yes, you can trust Him!

“I cannot always understand, The Way God leadeth me, The why, and when and wherefore Is oft a mystery. But I can trust His wisdom, I know His way is best, His heart knows no unkindness And on His love I rest.” (1)

(1) Cowman, Mrs. Charles E. Streams in the Desert 2. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1966. p.138

Devotionals

Need a quick reply?

Loring Schultz

“Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.” Isaiah 58:9 NLT

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Today’s devotional is light-hearted with an experience I’m sure a lot of us go through. There are times when we need an immediate answer. Urgent matters required a quick response. But what about needing a quick response that is not critical, but only to your timetable. It can be frustrating waiting for an answer or getting the run around as your request for service gets passed around only to wind up back where you started. Yes, our time is precious and valuable, and we don’t want to waste it, but living in an imperfect world we are going to have delays and needless waste of time can be expected.

I experienced such an incident this week. With an already full daily schedule, a scheduled appointment for a quick fix at the car dealership turned out to more than a quick fix but not fixed at all. I got caught up between two car dealerships and a third-party service provider as to who will fix it. I’m not complaining (really,) the problem will be resolved, but I was frustrated with the amount of extra time I spent reaching out to the other parties. Living in a day when communication is so much faster it sure took me a long time to finally convince Chatbot that I needed to speak to a representative. Chatbot wasn’t programmed for this unique dilemma.

What a comfort it is to know that when we call upon God, He will answer and quickly. To be fair to Chatbot, it answered quickly, but only had programed answers for the most common problems, not my unusual circumstance. God has all the answers all the time, and He needs no reprogramming or updates. He is the original programmer of all things, and He is quick to reply.  

Devotionals

Our Unchangeable God 

Loring Schultz

Read: Malachi 3:6-18 NLT – A Call to Repentance – “I am the – Bible Gateway

“I am the LORD, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6 NLT

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Aren’t you glad we have an unchangeable God? Just think how many times a day you change your mind. Sometimes when we change our minds it doesn’t work out so well. Ask yourself, have I ever changed my mind towards God? If you did, how did that work out, or are you still working it out? We never need to worry about God changing His mind towards us, because He never will. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He doesn’t change His mind.

The Lord God was calling His people Israel to repentance through the prophet Malachi. They had sinned against Him countless times. Israel would repent and turn back to God. God would forgive them but they would again change their minds and go back to their old ways. Sounds a lot like us in our day. God did not give up on His people Israel and He doesn’t give up on us either. God’s forgiveness is always available when we confess our sins and repent, because our God doesn’t change His mind.

God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy is the same as it was for Adam and Eve in the garden when they first sinned. His plan of salvation for sinners has not changed, and every one of us should be eternally grateful for that. God’s Son Jesus Christ is still the only way of salvation and eternal life with the Father. (Jn.14:6) The way of salvation is through Christ alone by faith alone. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Ro.10:9-10 nlt) It’s still the same way today, no additions and no subtractions, for we have an unchangeable God.

Devotionals

Don’t Give Up               

Loring Schultz

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” Galatians 6:9 NLT

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Have you ever reached a point in your life when you throw up your hands and say, ‘why bother?’ You obey the law, except perhaps going over the speed limit, you’re kind to your neighbors sharing what the Lord has blessed you with, you volunteer for community projects, and you give to the poor. After a while you experience unsettling times when you sense your efforts are underappreciated or not recognized at all. On top of that, you don’t see anywhere your goodness has made a difference. Indeed, it can be unsettling. Paul has some advice for us ‘don’t give up.’

As the farmer waits patiently through the hot summer months until autumn to reap his crop, so must we be patient and not give up.. Our heavenly Father is the master gardener and we are His workers in His field. Our main job is to constantly plant seed, do good works as unto the Lord allowing Him to nurture our efforts by watering the ground and providing abundant sunshine to produce a bountiful crop. Some of our efforts may fall on hard stoney ground and never have the chance to sink in and make a difference. That shouldn’t stop us from doing good. We are to faithful and give it to the Lord.

It can be frustrating not seeing results from our work and not being appreciated, but we are not doing it for ourselves but for the Lord. His command to us is to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. And remember Paul’s advice, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” So, don’t give up!

Devotionals

Hope for Restoration

Loring Schultz

“Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.’” Isaiah 35:1-2a, 4 NLT

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There is an abundant need for restoration in our world today. Relationships in broken families need to be restored. Broken marriages need healing returning to health, strength, and stability. Incarcerated individuals need restoration while in prison and when released back into society. Those who have fallen into addiction of drugs, alcohol, pornography, or gambling are in dire need of restoration. Most governments around the globe have fallen far from the original intent of the law. Societal ills are the major cause of broken relationships, crime, addictions, and corrupt governments. And sin is the cause of all our societal ills including each of us who are estranged from God. But there is hope, hope for restoration.

The prophet Isaiah writes about a future day of restoration for the nation of Israel and the world during the Millennium period when Christ will rule on the earth. There will be no societal ills to worry about, no addictions, broken families, or corrupt governments. “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.’” (Is. 35:4 NLT) It is a comfort to know all will be restored in the future, but what about now you may say, where is my hope for restoration?

Our hope for restoration in the here and now begins with the forgiveness of sins as we confessed them to God. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 Jn. 1:9 NLT) Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (5:17 NLT) As a new person in Christ the Holy Spirit comes upon you to assist in your struggles within your family, your temptations, and your addictions. (1 Cor. 6:19)

God is in the business of restoration, so there is your hope for restoration. “Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!” (Is. 35:1-2a NLT)

Devotionals

What has the Lord done for you?

Loring Schultz

“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” Psalm 105:1 NLT

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“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 NLT

Role models have paved the way for successful people to reach their goals in life. Mentors are involved in a more personal and deeper approach in influencing an individual to success. Both deserve recognition for what they have done and be able to help others the same way if their efforts were well known. The same is true for Christian role models and mentors. Those who benefit from them should spread the word of their influence enabling them to help others.

Not many of us share the same role models or mentors, but every Christian has the same role model to learn from, Jesus Christ. In fact, every person living today can learn from this role model and be influenced by His mentoring if they only knew of Him.  For others to know Him, Christians need to be vocal first in telling what He has done for them personally leaving nothing out. Second, living the life that supports what was said to be true, and third mentoring them for them to mentor others.

Now to get personal. Think through very thoroughly all the Lord has done for you. It probably won’t be a bad idea if you compile a list, but make sure you have enough paper or space on your hard drive. It may surprise you and be an eye-opening experience all the Lord has done for you. Then let us as the psalmist says, “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” (Ps.105:1 nlt) Jesus calls us the light of the world. We can’t help but shine naturally so may we add words to why we shine by telling everyone what the Lord has done for us.

Devotionals

How to become right with God

Loring Schultz

“I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” Galatians 2:21 NLT

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Have you done your good deed for the day yet? Depending on when you are reading this, the beginning of your day or ending it or perhaps on your lunch break, there is still time to complete that good deed. When and if you do a good deed, does it count towards your entrance into heaven? How many good deeds you have stacked up at the gate so far? What’s the magic number you need for the gate to open? How do you know if your reached it? Do your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds? You hope they do. But you can never be sure. Trying to work your way into heaven is a fruitless effort. It will never be achieved no matter how hard you try. So, why don’t you quit trying to be good enough to become right with God, because you can’t, and count on Jesus’ righteousness through accepting Him for salvation.

The apostle Paul was telling the churches in Galatia that following the law would never make them right with God. If that where the case, then there was no reason for Jesus to die for our sins, seeing we could handle it ourselves through obeying the law and doing good deeds. The truth is there is nothing we can do to stand righteous before God. It is only through Jesus’ righteousness applied to us as we accept Him as our savior. That is why Jesus came. He needed to come to be the perfect sacrifice for sin which we could never be. Isaiah wrote, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Is.64:6 nlt) Even our good deeds are as filthy rags. They certainly won’t get us into heaven. They won’t make us right with God. But faith through grace will get us both right with God and into heaven.

Don’t give up doing good deeds. But know they are not what gets you into heaven. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior, having His righteousness applied to you, and your good deeds will be done in the name of Jesus showing others you are a child of God.